Recovering well!

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Hi everyone! I know I've been gone awhile, but I assure you it's only temporary. I am up a little more each day after my cervical spine surgery on 8/13. I have bone grafts in 3 of my cervical verebrae, and it will take 8-12 weeks for the grafts to fuse with my own bones. I have a fairly large incision in the front of my neck where they went in to do the work on my vertebrae. It is difficult for me to swallow now, and I'm at a high risk of choking so I am eating a soft diet and drinking through a straw. Thank God I only lost my voice for a few days, LOL!

I had a spinal cord injury, as well as my degenerative bone disease in my neck and spine. I have lived in constant pain for nearly 8 years. In the last 3 years, I have had tremendous pain in my shoulders, arms, and hands (neuropathy) due to the pressure on my spinal cord. That pain is GONE!!! I have absolutely NO PAIN in my extremeties now!!! I have all the feeling back in my hands, and they are getting stronger each day. I am wearing a heavy-duty neck brace and am now able to get up and walk on a walker. I have been able to get into the gecko room the last couple of days, but I cannot do much yet. It just feels good to be able to pick up and hold some of my geckos!

I am so grateful that God guided the neurosurgeon's hands to provide me with the healing I needed. I am also grateful for the donor's bones... someone who donated their tissue after death to bring me quality of life. A part of that person lives on through me, and I will be forever in debt to him/her and their family for this gift.

Anyway, I'm still around so don't write me off yet! This Mean Old Gecko Lady is actually pretty tough, and I heal quickly. I'll be back 'meaner' than ever soon!

 

[Haroldo]

So glad to hear a good report. I know I haven't been in touch in the last few months Marcia, but I'll give you a buzz when you're up to it. Wonderful testimony!

 

[Palor]

Good to hear the surgery was a success!

 

[Chewbecca]

That's awesome, Marcia!
Glad all is going well for you!!!

I didn't realize they could transplant bones and tissue like that!
That's AMAZING!

I've got a question for you, though, if you do not mind:
Do you have to take anti-rejection medication due to having that type of transplant?
My mother is a type one diabetic and got a pancreas transplant 12 years ago.
And up until the pancreas started shrinking (they find this happens after about 10 years), she was taking anti-rejection medication.
I know you didn't have an organ transplanted, but I thought the main reason for anti-rejection medication was because the body's immune system would start attacking the newly transplanted tissue, so you'd have to suppress the immune system so that it doesn't attack it.
Is it the same for what you had done?

Again, I think it's awesome that you are not in pain anymore.
And here's to hoping you continue to do so well!

 

[mainelygeckos]

great news Marcia I am very glad everything went well and ur feeling better! Look forward to the mean ole gecko lady sticking around

 

[gitrdone0420]

Wow! It sounds like you are doing great after that major surgery! I am so glad =] I cant imagine living in pain for such a long time, it must be such a blessing to feel almost no pain right now! We are all here for you! And I wish you a speedy, healthy recovery!

 

[Kristi23]

I am so glad you're doing better already.

 

[eyelids]

FANTASTIC!

 

[727geckokid]

Glad to Hear That the Surgery Went well and We wish you a Speedy Recovery. Look forward to having you back "Meaner Than Ever" :main_rolleyes::main_thumbsup:

 

[BalloonzForU]

AWSOME NEWS!!! I couln't be happier for you being pain free again!! Here's to hopping you get stronger and stronger and feel younger and younger every day!! But you'll always be our MOGL!!

 

[Mel&Keith]

I'm glad you finally got some relief! I can't even imagine how scary it must be going into a high risk surgery like that. Take it easy and have a speedy recovery!

 

[ang3l3s]

Good luck Marcia, stay mobile to help with circulation which helps with healing but do not over exert thyself. Healing can be a state of mind, good luck !!!! Nothing like feeling your extremities again!!

 

[thestack510]

It's great to hear you are pain free and recovering well. Special thanks to whoever donated their bones/tissue so that our friend could finally live in comfort. I'm happy for you MOGL. You'll be dancing like that Jib Jab vid in no time. :main_laugh:

 

[Nigel4less]

Its a sigh of relief to hear that you are making progress, Marcia. I hope that next year you`ll be up and at em' to do the California Show Circuit

Your always in our thoughts.

 

[liljenn]

Excellent to hear, Marcia! I can't imagine the stress you've been under in the anticipation of this surgery. It is wonderful that it went so well and you are pain-free. Praying for your quick and full recovery!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Thanks everyone!!!

Do you have to take anti-rejection medication due to having that type of transplant?

Nope! I did have to be tissue-typed, and the donor bone matched with less than a 3% chance of rejection. I got intravenous steroids in the hospital, and am taking oral steroids temporarily.

I will never be completely pain-free, as my disease is a progressive auto-immune condition. This surgery was only the first of about 3 more surgeries I will have over the next couple of years. However, this one was the most critical and risky, with the longest recovery time (up to 6 months!) I will have to have more spine surgery, shoulder surgery, and both hips replaced.

It just feels so good to have all the pressure of my deteriorating bones off my spinal cord, which was causing severe neuropathy in both shoulders, arms and hands. For over 3 years I either had searing pain down my arms to my hands, or electrical pins & needles... like having my fingers in a light socket. That is now almost completely gone! I'll be happy to get out of this neck brace in another 8-10 weeks, but I am so grateful to be able to sleep without pain or taking Oxycontin!

 

[trashcan]

That's great that you are seeing a reduction in pain. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[sunshinegeckofarm]

Im glad your feeling better and the surgery so far is a success in relieving you of pain and discomfort. I hope you have a fast and speedy recovery and have continued success of no pain or discomfort any longer. Good luck with everything.


Danielle

 

[dprince]

Marcia, this is wonderful news!! May your recovery be extra speedy.

 

[Roaming Reptiles]

That is great Marcia! When it is all said and done you will be better than ever! Thoughts and prayers are always with you.